Code mechanism having a permanent magnet slidably received in an aperture in a magnetic member



Nov. 24, 1964 E. H. PAGLEE 3,153,710

CODE MECHANISM HAVING A PERMANENT MAGNET SLIDABLY RECEIVED IN AN APERTURE IN A MAGNETIC MEMBER Filed Jan. 29, 1962 lA VfA/ra? Ea ar A. 1 7/99 United States Patent 3,158,710 CODE MECHANHSM HAVENG A PERMANENT MAGNET SMDAEELY RilfiElVED IN AN AYER- TURE liN A MAQNETKC Milli iiililt Edgar H. Paglee, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Stewart- Warner Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of ii 'inia V g Filed Jan. 29, 1962, her. No. 169,405

7 Claims. (Cl. Mid-87) This invention relates to code mechanisms and more particularly to code carrying devices and decoders therefor which are useful in escort memory systems for sortation systems or the like.

Escort memory systems are used in sortation systems in which an object to be delivered to a particular locat on has a code applied thereto or to the carrier upon wh1ch the object is transported and the code is carried as the object and/ or the carrier progresses along a predestined path. As the object and/ or the carrier passes driferent locations along the path, decoders read the code to determine succeeding operations thereof.

Previous escort memories were mainly of the mechanical or electro-mechanical type having levers or fingers which were operated in one position or another by manual or automatic means at an addressing station. In the mechanical type the levers or fingers on the object or carrier were adapted to mechanically engage switch members located at the various positions along the path of travel so as to mechanically cause the object and/ or the carrier to processed in one or the other of alternate paths or the object to be discharged from the carrier. An example of this general type system may be seen in US. Patent No. 73 6,197 in which a lever on the object carrying car is adjustable in height to trip a switch at a desired location.

In the electromechanical type the levers or fingers engage electric contacts at the decoder station in a Wiper action to complete electric circuits to energize means for performing the desired operation on the object and/or carrier.

Escort memory devices and the decoders therefore must have a high standard of reliability to be useful in any type of sortation system. Each component should have life test capabilities of ten to twenty million operations for satisfactory application. It is diificult if not impossible, for mechanical or electro-mechanical type lever and switch systems to meet these qualifications because of the mechanical failures in the lever or switch mechanisms and/or the failure of electric contacts because of Wear or severe environmental conditions.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an escort memory code carrier and decoder which has a high standard of reliability and mechanical ruggedness.

It is another object of this invention to provide a code carrying mechanism which has a minimum number of components and is operable to energize a decoder unit without making mechanical contact therewith.

It is another object of this invention to provide a code carrying member in which individual magnets are positionable to selectively engage switches in the decoder unit by means of the magnetic flux emanating therefrom as well as using the magnetic flux to hold the magnets in their desired position.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become readily apparent upon a further reading of this specification, especially when taken in view of the accompanying drawing in which;

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of an escort code carrying device and a decoder device embodying the principles of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of one of the permanentmagnet plunger members and the portion of the bar member in which it is received; and

FIG. 3 is a section view of the code carrying device and decoder device taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

Briefly an escort memory code carrier encompassing the teachings of this invention comprises a bar of magnetic material attached to the carrier having at least one aperture therethrough with a permanent magnet slidably received within the aperture. The magnet has a length greater than the length of the aperture and means are provided for maintaining the magnet within the aperture so that the magnet, through interaction with the bar member, will take an extended position on one side or the other of the bar member. In the decoder magnetically operable switch positioned adjacent the path of travel of the extended end of the magnet is actuated as the bar member with the magnet passes. The contacts in the switch may be used to complete a circuit to energize a transfer mechanism for removing the object from the carrier, or to operate track switch to route the carrier along a desired path. It is to be understood that there are many other operations which may be performed responsive to the detecting of the code and the above are merely examples.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown an escort code carrying device 10 which is attached directly to a carrier 12 which transports an object such as a package along a predetermined path. Along the path approaching each location at which the carrier is to be diverted or the package is to be discharged there is located a decoder device 14 which reads the code in the escort code carrying device 10.

The code carrying device Ill) comprises a bar member 16 having one or more apertures 18 (FIG. 2) therethrough for receiving individual permanent magnets 29a, 20b, 20c and 20a. There are bushings 22 press-fit into each of the apertures 13 to act as bearings for the permanent magnets 20 which are reciprocably slidahle therein. A keeper ring 24 surrounds each end of each magnet 20 within an annular groove 25. The keeper ring is preferably a split-type for easy insertion and is formed of magnetic fiux permeable material for purposes to be hereinafter described. The magnets 20 are substantially greater in length than the length of the aperture 18 in the bar member 16 and preferably at least twice as long so that when the washer 24 on one end of the magnet is in abutment with the face of the bar the other end of the magnet is extended to a substantial distance from the opposite face of the bar.

Since the bar 16 is fabricated of a magnetic material the magnets will assume a stable position having one or the other of its pole ends adjacent thereto with the other pole end at an extended position from the other side of the bar. Since magnetic flux tends to take the path of least reluctance, it will tend to find the path through the washer 24 in abutment with the barmember and throu h the bar members 16 to the opposite pole of the magnzt. There will thus be a tendency to hold the magnet 2t) in the position with the washer 24 in abutment with the bar member. This will be true regardless of which pole North or South, is positioned adjacent the bar member.

It may thus be seen that a digital-type code may be set on the code carrying member device it) which may the address code. The code is generally entered at or near a loading station near the entry portion of the .of which extend through the glass envelope '32.

89 sorting system. The address for routing an object to a desired location may be 1011 for example, which can be represented in the code carrying member it by the placement of the first, third and fourth magnets, 20a,

20c and 2%, respectively, in their up position and the second magnet, Zttb, in its down position. The magnets will maintain their set coded position by means of their individual forces present in view of the magnetic flux path between the magnets and the bar member 16.

No springs or detents are required to hold the magnets in their set position and, consequently, there is a minimum of parts subject to wear over extended usage.

The readout or decoder device 14 comprises magnetically operable switches 26 supported by a bracket 27 along the path of travel of the escort-code carrying device Mi attached to the moving carrier 12. The switch 26 may be of any type which is actuatably responsive to the passage of a magnet adjacent thereto. However, a

particularly desirable switch has been found to be a magnetic reed switch of the type soldby the Gordos Corporation of Bloomfield, New Jersey, under their Catalog No. MR/800-1. This switch comprises a glass envelope 32 within which are hermetically sealed a stationary contact 28 (FIG. 3) and a sensitive elongated contact 3% both of which are fabricated of magnetically flux permeable material. Each of the contacts, 28 and 30, is fabricated by deforming the end of a magnetic fiux permeable wire, the other ends (34a and 3411 respectively) Thus,-it has been found .that the switch may be operated by passing a magnet within close proximity of the-end of one of the leads 34. The lead 34a is bent parallel to the path of travel, so that the contacts remain closed for a slightly extended period of time to insure simultaneous operation of all desired switches. Guide mem bers 36 direct the code carrying member to its proper position to actuate the switches 26 and are also supported by the bracket 27.

Switches 26 may be located adjacentthe extended position of the magnet in either the down or up position depending upon the code that the decoder 14 is to be made responsive. For example, if the decoder 14 is to read the code carried by the code carrying member 11 in FIG. 1, it need have only four switches, three switches 26a, 26c and 26d for the raised magnets 20a, Ztic and 2th! and switch 26b for magnet 20b in the lower position. The remaining switches need not be included in the decoder.

It is to be noted that the leads 34a andb may also be used as the electrical connectors'for the switches. The four switches 26a, b, c and d may be electrically connected in series so that upon the simultaneous actuation of all four they will complete a circuit therethrough for energizing apparatus for changing the path of travel of the carrier 12 or discharging the package from the carrier. If only one, two, or three, but not all of the switches are actuated by a code carrying device 1.0 having a different code set therein, the electric circuit through the switches would not be completed to operate the switch or discharge mechanism.

The magnets in the code carrying device It may have their poles oriented in either direction with respect to one another and may be spaced at any desired'interval. However, it has been 'found preferable to align the like poles of the magnets in the same direction because it permits closer spacing between the several magnets. It also lengthens the operable air gap between the pole end on the switch lead 34. This is because the like poles will cause the flux lines emanating therefrom to leave in a more axial direction toward its respective magnetic switch. If the poles on adjacent magnets were dissimilar the magnetic flux would be flattened at the pole faces severely reducing the operable air gap.

While there has been described herein a preferred embodiment of the teachings of this invention it is tobe understood that many modifications may be made thereto While still remaining within the framework of the invention. It is, therefore, intended that the invention be limited only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An escort memory and decoder system for use with a carrier in a sorting system, or the like, comprising a bar of magnetic material adapted to be attached to said carrier and having a number of apertures therein, a cylindrical permanent-magnet plunger slidably received within each of said apertures and having a length substantially longer than the length of said aperture, means adjacenteach end of each magnet plunger for maintaining said plunger within said aperture, each of said plungers being translatable to one extended position or the other, a number of magnetically operable switches, means fixedly supporting said switches adjacent the path of the xtended ends of selected ones of said magnets and in respective positions to be simultaneously energized thereby.

2. An escort memory and decoder system for use with a carrier in a sorting system, or the like, comprising a bar of magnetic material adapted to be attached to said carrier and having a number of apertures therein, a bushing in each of said apertures, a cylindrical permanent- .magnet plunger slidably received within each of said bushings and having a length substantially longer than the length of said aperture, a keeper ring of magnetic material disposed in an annular groove adjacent each end of each magnet plunger, each of said plungers being translatable to one extended position or the other, a

number-of magnetically operable switches, means fixedly supporting said switches adjacent the path of the extended ends of selected ones of said magnets and in respective positions to be simultaneously energized thereby.

3. "An escort memory md decoder system'for use with a carrier in a sorting system, or the like, comprising a bar of magnetic material adapted to be attached to said carrier and having a-number of aligned apertures therein, a bushing in each of said apertures, a cylindrical permanent-magnet plunger slidably received within each of said bushings and having a length at least twice as long as the length of said aperture, a keeper ring ofmagnetic material disposed in an annular groove adjacent each end of each magnet plunger, each of said plungers being translatable to one extended position or the other, a number of magnetically operable switches, means fixedly supporting said switches adjacent the path of the extended ends of selected ones of said magnets and in aligned positions to be simultaneously energized thereby.

4. In combination with one or more magnetic reed switches, a device for actuating selected ones of said switches comprising a bar of magnetic material-having a number of apertures equal to the number of switches, a cylindrical permanent-magnetplunger slidably received within each of said apertures and having a length substantially longer than the length of said aperture, a keeper ring of magnetic material disposed in an annular groove adjacent each end of each magnet plunger, each of said plungers being translatable to one extended position orthe other to actuate a magnetic switch disposed adjacent to said extended end.

5. In combination with one or more magnetic reed switches, a device for actuating selected ones of said switches comprising a bar of magnetic material having a number of apertures equal to the number of switches, a bushing in each of said apertures, a cylindrical permanent-magnet plunger slidably received within each of said bushings and having a length at least twice as long as the length of said aperture, a keeper ring of magnetic material disposed in an annular groove adjacent each end of each magnet plunger, each of said plungers being translatable to one extended position or the other, to actuate a magnetic switch disposed adjacent to said extended end.

6. A device for storing a code comprising a bar of magnetic material having at least one aperture therethrough, a cylindrical permanent-magnet slidably received within said aperture and having a length greater than the length of said here, and a keeper ring of magnetic material disposed in an annular groove adjacent each end of said magnet.

7. A device for storing a code comprising a bar of magnetic material having at least one aperture therethrough, a permanent magnet slidably received within said aperture and having a length greater than the length of said aperture, and means adjacent each end for maintaining said magnet within said aperture.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,310,357 Edelrnan Feb. 9, 1943 2,827,531 OBrien Mar. 18, 1958 2,922,994 Kennedy Ian. 26, 1960 2,932,703 Haberland Apr. 12, 1960 2,935,583 Howell May 3, 1960 3,022,398 Abel Feb. 20, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 346,859 Great Britain Apr. 23, 1931 

7. A DEVICE FOR STORING A CODE COMPRISING A BAR OF MAGNETIC MATERIAL HAVING AT LEAST ONE APERTURE THERETHROUGH, A PERMANENT MAGNET SLIDABLY RECEIVED WITHIN SAID APERTURE AND HAVING A LENGTH GREATER THAN THE LENGTH OF SAID APERTURE, AND MEANS ADJACENT EACH END FOR MAIN TAINING SAID MAGNET WITHIN SAID APERTURE. 